Sounding the alarm on racial discrimination terminated my career - Burrell

Warning: This article includes details of discriminatory comments and behaviour

FormerEngland player Luther Burrell says that going public to expose racism in professional rugby led his professional journey to an early conclusion.

In a 2022 interview, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been a handful of games with guest team the Barbarians.

"I've have definitely had to retire because of what happened," he told media outlets.

"I really hoped to continue playing, of course I did. I sought that, and it collapsed when news came out that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."

A sports organization report in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect sufficient evidence to definitively say they happened at Newcastle.

Burrell told media he also encountered discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his debut in February 2014.

"I have had several distressing experiences within England camp," he said.

"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become normalised in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.

"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've personally experienced and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a extended period you just begin to think that it's the standard and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's nonsense."

Burrell explains he was eventually motivated to go public after a team-mate at Newcastle referred to him as a "slave" and told him to put sunscreen on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the introduction of an strategy for the professional game."

"The organization has given considerable focus on diversity and diversity in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it added.

"The organization are ongoing work with teams and partners in the elite level to strive for a environment of inclusivity but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face training on building welcoming cultures, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and defend others from harmful conduct.

"You be so pleased of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the documentary Luther Burrell - Rugby, Racism and Redemption.

"I know it has had this effect on you and finished your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so proud of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff passed away shortly after the production of the film, and his sibling died recently.

Burrell, who was raised on a council estate in his hometown, continues his work to make the game more accessible.

His 12 Foundation works to reach young people in under-served communities and support them thrive both on the pitch with complimentary sports coaching, guidance and nutrition education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the sport and if nobody else is prepared to tell their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just pursuing this for myself," he said.

"Everyone involved have an responsibility to make the sport as great as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their own experiences as well.

"I take the bull by the horns and continue bearing this banner and keep supporting this responsibility and accomplish what I can to develop possibilities and make the sport more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged young people and a lot of economic hardship and I sincerely believe that the sport has the ability to change their lives, just as it transformed things for me."